Hand-truck.



R. 0. P-HELPS.

HAND TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY19,1914.

1,150,964. mmedmlg. 24,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET1.

R. 0. PHELPS.

HAND TRUCK.

APPucATloN FILED MAY19. 1914.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ROY C. PHELBS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

HAND-TRUCK.

Speciicaton of Letters Patent.

Datenicd Aug. Bei, i915.

Application filed May 19, 1914. Serial No. 839,598A

provide a truck having coacting handle.

trames either ot which may be attached to or detached from the truck as desired, and

may thus be used in conjunction with each other or independently.

The invention has as a further `object to provide a truck of the above described c haracier wherein one ot the handle trames is `so constructed as to provide a platform for a stove of suoli character that when the truck is brought to rest, the body portion ot' the; stove may be slid from said platform on to the oase ot the stove.

A, further object of the invention is 'to provide a truck incluifling integrally formed socket members having angularly disposed arms and provided with ears at the inten sections oif said arms which form journals to receive a shatt on which is mounted supporting' wheels which are arranged between ll he ears et' said socket members, to thus provide a simple and durable structure.

'lie invention also has a further oblect io provide a truck carrying fatch members arranged to engage the removable hanelle framesito thus maintain said iframes securely in position. And a still further olject of thel invention is to generally improve the construction and increase the etticiency ot devices ot' the above described character.

li'ith these and other objects in view my in i ention will be more -t'ully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and then specifically pointed out in the claims l which are attached to and t'orm a part of this application.

ln the accompanying drawings: Figure ,i is a perspective view ot' my improved truck showing the handle .trames in position thereon. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing one handle traine removed, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the truck, one handle trame be-' ing shown in section, Fig. l is a fragmentary detail perspective view ot' one of the socket members and the adjacent supportingr wheel. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken through one ot' the socket members and particuiarl'y showing the tapered walls ot' the sockets thereof, Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing one of the catch members arranged to engage the removable handle frame, Fig. i7 is a side elevation showing the preferred manner ot' using the truck in transporting a stove, one of the handle frames being' removed and the stove being shown in dotted lines, Fig. 8 is a similar view showing both handle frames in position upon the truck, the stove which is shown in dotted lines being illustrated as resting upon one of said frames, this ligure also showing the manner of using the truck in carrying a stove either up or down stairs, the stairs being shown in dotted lines, and Fig. i) is a side elevation showing one of the handle trames removed and the stove illustrated in dotted lines as resting upon the other handle framoin position to be slid or moved on to the base ot' the stove.

Corresponding and like parts aro referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters. y

My improved truck is especially designed for use in moving stoves or other heavy objects but it is to be understood that the device may be employed for many other purposes and l do. not therefore, wish to limit myself or have it understood thatv the truck can not be used in other ways, in describing the use ot' the invention inconnection with the handling of stoves.'

lteterring now more particularly to the drawings, my improved truck includes socket members l() which are prelerably constructed ot' suitable -metal and are each formed with angularly disposed arms ll which are preferably arranged at substantially right'angles to each other. The arms 11 ot' each ot the socket member-sl() are pre erahly substantially rectangalar and are hollow, the walls of each ot' said arms converging` toward the inner extremities thereof to provide tapered sockets l2.

At the intersection of the arms 11., each of the socket members i() is provided with oppositely disposed ears 13 which project .from the outer face of the socket members and are laterally. @breed and provided with v suitable apertures adapted to receive a shaft 14 which extends between and connects the wheels.

` of the socket members'lO are substantially identical, andvhandle frames 17 and 18 are provided'which-are receivable in said sockets interchangeably. The handle frame 17 includes the side bars 19 which terminate at their outer extremities in the downwardly curved handles 2Q, the opposite extremities of said bars being taperedto fitsnugly within the sockets 12 of the socket members 10. Connecting the side bars 19 arecross braces 21 and 22 preferably arranged in pairs, a pair being disposed adjacent each extremity of said side bars. The cross braces 21 and 22 may -be'formed from suitablemetallic strips andare provided with terminal T-shaped heads 23 which are secured to the edges of the side bars. The'cross braces 21 are preferably' straight andare arranged upon the rear edges of the side bars 19 while the cross braces 22 are arranged upon the u'pper edges of said side bars, and are longitudinally bowed to rest against the cross braces 21 as shown.-

The handle frame 18 is similar in construction to the frame17 but is preferably shorter and includes side bars 21 which are' connected by cross braces 25. The side bars 1 24 are each tapered 'at one extremity to fit within the sockets 12 of the socket members and are downwardly curved at te opposite extremity to providev handles 96. Wear plates 27 are arranged upon the upper faces of the cross braces. 25, such plates being -similar'in construction to the cross braces 21 and 22 heretofore described.

Itis tobe observed that the frames 17 and 1S 'may each be connected with or disconnected from the socket members 1() as desired,`the frame 17 being particularly dcsigned for handling' the truck while the frame 1 8 is more particularly intended to serve yas a platform. Arranged upon the inner confronting walls of the socket mem` -.bers 10 are catch members 28,l one of said catch members being preferal'ily disposed upon each arm 11 of each of said socket Ycontact with other objects.

the closed end 32 of the barrelv and is formed with a terminalthumb nutv Surrounding the stem 31 and bearing between the adjacent eXtremity of the head 3 0 of the plunger and the closed end 32 of the barrel .is a helical spring 34:, said'spring normally acting to maintain the head-30 of the plunger projected into the adjacent tapered socket 12. The adjacent portions of the side bars 19 and 2. are eachl provided with suitable recesses in which the heads 30 of the catch l members engage when the frames 17 and 18 are seated within the sockets 12. it 'wilt out of the way and are so disposed as to be i protected.l from injury due to coming in In Fig. 2 of the drawings l. have shown the frame 18 removed from the socket members 10, the frame 17 together with the laterally projecting arms of the socket members 1 0 providing anl ordinary truck. Under ordinary circumstancesmy improved truck may be used in this form as shown in Fig. 7 of the d rawings wherein a stove is illustrated in dotted lines in position upon the truck, the stove resting upon the laterally projecting arms of the socket-members 10. In or der to facilitate the handling of substantially cylindrical or round objects, the cross braces 22 are longitudinally bowed to receive such objects.

Where it is desired to move a stove downstairs for instance, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, or in any case where it is desired to place the body portion of the stove upon its base, as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, the framef18 is also preferably employed in connection with the frame 17. It will be observed that the'cross braces 25 of the frame 1S are straight and are provvided withv wear plates,"and such' frame forms'substantially a platform for the stove when the truck is brought to rest,'as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. 7W hen thusused the handles 2b of the frame 18 form legs so disposed 'to support the framev 1S in a substa'ntially horizontal positionand aswill be obvious, the stove may be slid or moved from olf of the frame 1S'dii'e tly"onto its base. Under ordinary circumstances, the frame 18 may be either employed or notas desired,.' but said frame lwill be Ifound very' convement when handling objects y1n any cases .where it is necessary tovtilt the'truck to any great angle such as would ordinarily ldislodge the object carnied .bythe truck,

suchv for instance in the moving of stoves either up or downstairs as shown m Fig. 8 of the drawings. Under such circumstances1 the frame 1S may be employed to advantage,I

since any possibility of the object carried by the truck from falling therefrom is obviated. I

,It Will therefore be seen that I provide in my improved truck a construction wherein the device may be used as an ordinary shippers truck or in the capacity of a. truck especially adapted to the handling of stoves or other heavy objects. It will also be noted that my improved truck when used in this latter capacity provides a platform for the object carried by the truck when the truck is brought to rest. It will further be seen that I provide a truck Which is simple in construction but which nevertheless provides a very rigid structure and wherein the handle frames employed may eachbe readily detached or applied as desired.

Having thus described my invention What I claim and desire to secure byLetters iPat-k ent is:

l. A device sf the character described including socket members having angularly disposed arms arranged in pairs and pro` videdwvith sockets, a shaft connecting said members, supporting Wheels mounted upon the shaft, and a handle frame disposed for detachable connection Within the sockets of either pair of arms. Y i

2. A device of the character described including socket members having angularly disposed arms arranged in pairs and provided ivith sockets, spaced ears formed on each of said socket members at the intersection of the arms thereof, a shaft connecting said members andpextending through said ears;l supporting Wheels mounted upon the shaft, one between the ears of each socket member, and a handle frame disposed for detachable connectionwithinthe sockets of either pair of arms.

3. A device of the character described including socket members having angularly disposed arms arranged in pairs and provided ivith tapered (sockets, supporting` wheels operatively connected' to'said mem`- bers, and a handle frame including side bars each tapered at one extremity and arranged to seat in said sockets, said handle frame be! v ing disposed for detachable connection Within the sockets of either' pair of arms.

4. A device of the character described including socket members having angularly disposed arms arranged in pairs and provided With sockets, spaced ears formed on each of said members at the intersection of the arms thereof, said members being recessed adjacent said ears to receive supporting wheels, supporting Wheels operatively connected to said members and disposed in said recesses, said wheels being arrangedone between the ears of cach pair, and a handle frame disposed for detachable connection within the sockets of either pair of arms.

5. A device of the character described including socket members Ahaving angularly disposed arms arranged in pairs and provided with sockets, supporting wheels operatively connected to said members, catch members arranged upon each of said arms and disposed to norm`a.lly project into the adjacent socket thereof, and a handle frame disposed to seat Within the sockets of either pair of arms in engagement with the catch members thereof.

G. A device of the character described in cluding socket members having angularly disposed arms arranged in pairs and provided With sockets, supporting wheels operatively connected to said members. a catch member arranged upon each of said arms, each of said catch members including a spring pressed plunger arranged to normally project into the socket of the adjacent arm, anda handle frame including side bars disposed to seat within the sockets of either pair of arms, each of said side bars having a suitable recess formed therein in which the catch member of the adjacent arm is disposed to engage.

7. A device of the character described including socket members having angularly disposed arms arranged in pairs and provided With sockets, supporting wheels op-.

eratively connected to said members, a catch member arranged upon each of said arms. and a handle frame disposed for detachable connection Within the sockets of either pair o-f arms in engagement with said catch members, each of said catch members including a barrel having screw threaded engagement with the wall of the adjacent arm, said barrel being closed at one end and provided ivithi an aperture in said end, a plunger including a head mounted to reciprocate in said barrel, a stem formed on the head and extending throughl the aperture formed in the 4 closed end of the barrel, a thumb nut arranged eXteriorly of the barrel and secured to said stem, and a spring surrounding the stem and interposed between the head of the plunger and the .closed end of the barrel, said spring being adapted vto normally maintain the head of the plunger projected into, the socket of the adjacent arm to engage the handle frame.

8. A device of the character described includingsocket members having angularly disposed arms arranged in pairs and provided ivith sockets, supporting wheels operatively connected to said members. a catch member dctachably connected to cach of said arms. said catch mcn'lbcrs being adapted to automatically engage a handle frame, and a handle frame disposed for detachable connection within the sockets of either pair of `arms in engagement with said catch' members.

9. A device of the character described 1ny cluding socket members having angularly disposed arms arranged in pairs and provided with sockets, supporting wheels operatively connected to said arms, and a handie frame disposed for ldetachable connection within the sockets Iof either p`air of, arms, said Iframe including side bars connected. by cross braces, each of-said braces jcluding socket members having angularly vided with sockets, supporting wheels op disposed arms arranged vinpairs and proeratively connected to said members, and a handle frame disposed for detachable connection within the sockets of either .pair of arms,` said frame including sidev bars, pairs ofoppositely disposed cross braces connecting said bars, the braces of each pair being l secured Ito the upper and lower edges of said bars, the braces .arranged `upon the lowei' edges of the bars being straight and vthe braces arranged upon the upper edges l of the bars being longitudinally bowed to rest against the adjacent lower braces.

11. A deviceof the character described including socket members having angularly disposed arms arranged in pairs and pro- Avided with sockets, supporting wheels oper- A atively .cpnnected to said members, and c0- ,ff-acting handle frames disposed fordetach- 'able connection within the sockets of either pair of arms, one of said frames being adapted to support an object longitudinally f land the other of said'frafmes providing a base for `said object.

1.2. yA device of the .character described in- @hiding socket members having'angularly disposed arms arfgianged in pairs and provided with sockets', supporting wheels operatively connected to said members, 'and a.

handle frame disposed for detachable confnection within the sockets of either pair of arms, said frame including sidev bars, cross braces connecting said arms,` and wear plates arranged 'upon said cross braces v In testlmony whereof l affix my signature in presence Vof two Witnesses.- j

I ROY' O. PHELPS. [ne] lVitnesses: v y i EDWIN A. HENDRICKS, GEO. E. NoR'rHRoP. 

